Technical Info:

Testing Performance:

Corrosion tested to BS EN 1670:2007:Grade 5

Conforms to BS EN 1191 – tested to 100,000 cycles

Adjustment:

At UAP we are constantly striving to improve on the products we already supply as well as develop new, pioneering ranges and practical product solutions.

With an in house testing centre and product developer, each stage of the development process is thorough, from the initial design right down to the final product. In house 3D printing technology allows for further and more precise advancement of our products which are then expertly manufactured and put through stringent testing conditions using in house test equipment – ensuring all products are designed to the highest standards:

Letterplate Flap Cycle Machine

By replicating the action of opening and closing the letterplates flaps, the machine can determine the durability of the hinge mechanism on the product. The flaps are repeatedly opened and closed to ensure they can withstand thousands of openings without snapping or breaking, promising a product that will last much longer than others in the industry. The process is repeated to 100,000 repetitions – with only 20,000 required by testing standards. Tests are performed in accordance with BS EN 13724:2013.

Anti-Fishing Tests

This standardised security test measures the ability of a letterplate to resist attack by fishing; a method of gaining keys through a letterbox using a hook. A letterplate must prevent the accessibility of a hook through it, and this is tested by inserting an aluminium rod, which is 6mm in diameter and 1200mm long, through the letterplate and seeing whether or not it can touch a target of 20mm in diameter, which has been placed on a table on the other side of the door.

If the rod is unable to touch the target, then it passes the technical standard. If not then a further test is conducted to see if a disc 0.075kg can be retrieved through the door.

Salt Spray Test

This machine tests the corrosion resistance of the letterplates. The salt spray cabinet produces a corrosive environment, by releasing a dense saline fog into the chamber which the letterplates are exposed to. This creates an accelerated corrosion of the letterplate and allows us to test how well the letterplate would stand up in harsher environments.

The letterplates are tested for differing lengths of time depending on the standard requirements; 480 hours for zamak and aluminium based letterplates where we offer a 5 year inland coating guarantee, and in the case of stainless steel Nanocoast letterplates, we test for 2,000 hours where we offer a LIFETIME coating guarantee anywhere in the country, as the letterplates will not pit or rust.

Tensile Strength Test

The tensile strength machine tests the resistance of a material to breaking under tension. It is used to see how well the letterplates perform when pressure is applied to them. The letterplates are attached to pieces of timber or plastic to see how well the fixings perform with the letterplate, which gives a more accurate test on the overall letterplate performance.